It's a storyline that played out at several stops along the Treasure Coast.

The area failed to win a single state title — or even reach a state championship game — for the first time since the 2004-05 school year, ending an unprecedented run of area excellence on the biggest stage.

Area teams finished 0-6 in state semifinals, a reminder that winning a state championship, or even getting to a state final, rarely is easy

No matter how it sometimes may appear.

"I think it's incredibly difficult," John Carroll Catholic baseball coach Dan Taylor said. "Coming from North Carolina, where they play a best two out of three series when they get to the Final Four. Here, it's single elimination in baseball, so anything is possible."

John Carroll would love to have had another chance after pushing two-time defending state champion Canterbury to the limit before losing 4-3 in a Class 3A state semifinal last week at Fort Myers.

John Carroll Catholic High School tries to make a comeback against Canterbury School on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. They came up one run short. Canterbury won 4-3.(Photo: ANDREW WEST/THE NEWS-PRESS)

Despite three errors, the Rams had the tying run at first base with one out in seventh inning before Canterbury cut the rally short.

Remember when Vero Beach’s girls lacrosse steam spent a decade steamrolling through one state final after another before losing in stunning fashion to Bartram Trail in overtime in the 2016 state final?

The Indians now have gone three years without finishing No. 1. They lost to Naples-Barron Collier in a 2017 regional final and fell to eventual state champion American Heritage of Delray Beach in a state semifinal last month.

It was their first semifinal loss since 2005, a staggering reminder of how high the bar has been set under coach Shannon Dean's watch.

It's also reinforces the notion that no matter how much coaching, talent or tradition a team has, it comes with zero guarantees.

Vero Beach pitchers struck out 15 batters against Timber Creek, yet the Indians still lost by six runs.

That's because Timber Creek drew five walks, got a hit batter and three wild pitches, and packaged enough key hits — including a three-run home run in the sixth inning — to hand the Indians their first loss since March 17.

After beating John Carroll, Canterbury completed a state title three-peat with a 6-1 win against North Florida Christian a day later.

Take away a play, maybe two, from the semifinal and maybe John Carroll plays for its first state title since winning the last of its three crowns in 1978.

"It just wasn't meant to be that day," Taylor said. "We did some uncharacteristic things, trying to force things that weren't there."

Vero Beach's baseball team must replace 11 seniors, including pitchers David Luethje and Hunter Cooley, so returning to the regional final will be difficult.

"To lose those guys, there's a lot of work to be done," Rahal said. "And a lot of opportunity for some of our young kids."

John Carroll's softball team, which reached its third consecutive state tournament, graduated its top two players in Ashley Montoya and Taylor Pottorff.

Vero Beach's girls lacrosse team loses another talented senior class, but the Fighting Indians always find a way to stay in the mix.

Master's Academy's softball team, which upset two state-ranked opponents in regional play to reach its first Final Four, returns much of its still-young team.

Jensen Beach's volleyball team, which has been to eight final fours in the past 12 seasons, figures to make another run this fall.

The Falcons' wrestling team, which lost a Class 2A state semifinal dual to Riverdale by a mere four points, has finished in the top 10 in its class of the individual bracket state tournament 10 years in a row.

So which team has the best chance of getting to the state finals in 2018-19?

That leaves the bulk of the team that batted .313 and fashioned a 1.85 earned-run average, plus more help on the way from a junior varsity team that lost one game all season.

"Obviously, you want to win it all. There's always going to be that little bit of disappointment (with a loss)," Taylor said. "But if we're fortunate to get back there again, I think it helps having made that trip there before."

Dennis Jacob is a sports multi-media journalist for TCPalm.com. This column reflects his opinion. Contact him at 772-221-4211, dennis.jacob@tcpalm.com.